HAMLYN'S MENAGERIE MAGAZINE. 
WILD ANIMALS AS HOUSE PETS. 
THE WOLF. 
By Hugh S. Spencer, B.A. 
This creature was in former times an exceed- 
ingly ancient inhabitant of our country. His bones 
"have been found in river channels, peat-rosses, 
and the floors of caverns. The jaw-bone of the 
primaeval wolf was furnished with chisel-edged 
teeth larger in proportion to the size of the bone 
than are the teeth of the dog. It is said that the 
wolves inhabiting a continent like Europe are 
larger and stronger than those which roam over 
a small island. This is because they have more 
room to move about in, and consume more food. 
Anglo-Saxon literature contains several allu- 
sions to the wolf. He is described as following 
armies on the march in order to devour the slain. 
Accompanying him were the white-tailed erne, 
and other birds, such as the kite, raven and gos- 
hawk. The long and devastating wars through 
which England has passed caused a great increase 
in the number of her feral inhabitants such as 
wolves. It is said that these creatures prowled 
through the great forest of Andred in Kent and 
Sussex during the eleventh century. This forest 
was 120 miles long and 30 broad, and what is now 
the Brighton Road from London passes over the 
ground it formerly covered. In northern England 
also during the reign of William I. a Norman 
baron named D'Umfraville: was given land on the 
understanding that he was to clear the district ad- 
joining of these ravenous beasts. In the time of 
Stephen, that is the twelfth century, we read of 
wolves in South Wales. It has been stated that 
it was not till Henry VII. 's reign that the wolf 
became extinct in England. It lingered in Scotland 
till the close of the seventeenth century, and in 
Ireland into the eighteenth. 
Byron's lines thus depict the wolf : — 
41 All night I heard them on the track, 
Their troop came hard upon our back, 
With their long gallop, that can tire 
The hounds' deep hate and hunter's fire. 
Whe'er we fled they followed on, 
Nor left us with the morning sun; 
Behind I saw them scarce a rood 
At daybreak winding through the wood, 
And through the night had heard their feet, 
Their stealing, rustling, step repeat." 
There are still wolves in Russia and other parts 
of Europe. In Russia every wolf, it. is stated, 
costs the nation £11 annually. However, wolves 
are no longer the objects of dread thev formerly 
were among the peasantry. The superstitious 
fears of which the wolf was the subject have to 
a great extent vanished. His numbers have 
diminished by reason of the increase of population, 
tillage, and of improved weapons of precision. 
Nevertheless the war which is existing will cer- 
tainly, if it continues long, cause an increase in 
the number of wolves in those parts of Europe 
where thev still are to be found. 
WATERFOWL IN REGENT'S PARK. 
By A. D. Webster. 
Large numbers of waterfowl both native and 
introduced find a congenial home on the Lake, and 
its Islands, the latter, especially by the Northern 
end, being quite a sanctuary and breeding ground 
for many of the rarer kinds. At times, as many 
as three hundred waterfowl may be seen on the 
Lake but the numbers fluctuate greatly with the 
particular season of the year and arrivals from 
and departures to other waters in the Metropolis. 
Of the rarer Geese, about a dozen kinds succeed 
well, while nearly double that number of distinct 
species of duck are usually to be found. As well 
as these, several species of Swan, including the 
rare and distinct Bewicks, the Cormorant, blue 
and common Coot, greater and lesser Grebe, 
Water-rail, Heron, and many others of interest, 
are included in the collection. The extremely rare 
and pugnacious Bittern was introduced but it is 
untameable and like the great diver made off to 
more congenial surroundings. Several of the 
rarer and most beautiful of the duck family do well 
including the Mandarin, Carolina, Sheldrake 
(common, ruddy and Australian), Rosybilled, 
Shoveller, Gadwall, and at least four species of 
Teal, including our native bird — the smallest and 
neatest of all. 
Amongst desirable Geese, the Sebastapol is one 
of the most curious owing to the recurved feathers 
of the back and sides, while its propensity for 
crossing with almost every other species is well 
known. The Chinese is a handsome stalwart 
fellow that breds regularly on the Lake, though 
the same may be said of the Brent and Barnicle, 
the Pinkfooted, Egyptian, Canadian and barred, 
the latter one of the neatest and prettiest of the 
tribe. 
Of crossbred waterfowl the most interesting are 
the produce of the Canadian and Sebastapol, the 
grey log and pinkfooted geese while several 
species of duck have also produced interesting 
crosses, particularly that of the mallard and 
pochard. 
Kingfishers visit the Lake frequently, but do 
not breed, probably owing to the want of suitable 
surroundings, though the lesser grebe has reared 
its young as has the Coot and Moorhen. The 
Carolina duck has nested on several occasions, as 
has the pintail, tufted diver and pochard. 
From their diving feats the tufted and pink- 
eyed divers give much pleasure to the public, while 
the Cormorants afford considerable amusement by 
reason of their remaining so* long beneath water 
and rarely coming to the surface without their 
quarry. 
